Friday, February 9
USAFA, Colo.
7:00 PM MT
Air Force Academy
vs
Sacramento State, SEMO
Women’s Gymnastics earns benchmark 194.875 win in Pack the House night
2/10/2024 12:28:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – In its 2024 home debut, the Air Force women's gymnastics team, returning to form from injuries and illnesses alike, earned a statement victory on Friday night in the Cadet Gym, finishing over Southeastern Missouri State and longtime opponent Sacramento State with a 194.875 win.
Maggie Slife, the Mountain West Conference's two-time Gymnast/Freshman of the Week, landed the Falcons' second all-time highest all-around score, finishing the night with the all-around title in-hand after scoring a 39.425 – the first 39-plus finish and highest four-event total for a Falcon since 2004. Slife's all-around performance falls just five-hundredths short of the program record, set by Jessica Leigl twenty years prior to Friday night. Slife, topping Falcon scores with a 9.900 on uneven bars, finished with a 9.825 or better on all four events and finishing in first place in three events.
In another record-book finish, Gabriella Meccia shined in her floor routine, scoring a 9.925 to smash her previous career best to tie for first and place her name at second in the all-time scores on floor exercise. Meccia is the first to land a 9.925 or better since the 2020 season (Tyler Davis) and just the third to do so since 2004.
Following the Olympic order, the Falcons opened on vault, where Slife's 9.850 topped all scores and was the lone 9.800 of the day. Velandra Brochi, Gracie Willis and Gabriella Meccia all followed with a 9.650 to tie for seventh.
On uneven bars, Slife's first-place 9.900 marked the team's second-highest score in the event in 2024 – second only to the 9.925 Slife set in her collegiate debut on Jan. 19. Ayla McKean tied for second place, scoring a 9.850 to match her career best. Clara Wallace took a leap on the score sheet, closing with a personal-best 9.725.
On beam, Slife (9.825) and McKean (9.800, season high) earned podium finishes, both finishing first and third.
Air Force closed on floor exercise where they finished with a 49.125, earning the highest team score in the event since Feb. 4, 2022. Three Falcons closed the night with a 9.800 or higher to all earn top-ten finishes. Meccia's first-place 9.925 led off Falcon scoring, with Slife (9.850, career-high) and Gianna Martyna (9.800) all contributing to an all-time team result.
Head Coach Jennifer Green on bringing the show back home:
"The crowd (Pack the House) was amazing and made the difference in the end. It was wonderful for the freshmen to get their first taste of what it feels like to compete at home!"
Coach Green on standout performances:
"We had some outstanding performances out of a lot of people. Loved seeing Rosa compete her full on vault and exhibition on beam and floor! Gabi's floor routine was an incredible way to finish! Madison Carlisle was in a pressure situation on bars and did her best. She showed competitive greatness."
"The team wanted to put on a show on floor and did they! 49.125 is a high for this season!"
On Amber Boll and Velandra Brochi's ring recognition ceremony:
"What a blessing to have several alumnae back in the gym. That energy lifts everyone. They are the reason we are doing so well; they paved the way. Lots of gratitude for being part of their journey. Winning bars at a conference championship and the all-around at USAG Nationals are rare and difficult accomplishments. Something definitely to celebrate!"
"It will be nice to stay home again next week! We are looking forward to building on this performance. It was exciting to see this team thrive-and trust in themselves to come from behind and win."
Up Next:
Air Force women's gymnastics is back in the Cadet Gym on Feb. 16, hosting UC Davis and Centenary College at 7 p.m.
Maggie Slife, the Mountain West Conference's two-time Gymnast/Freshman of the Week, landed the Falcons' second all-time highest all-around score, finishing the night with the all-around title in-hand after scoring a 39.425 – the first 39-plus finish and highest four-event total for a Falcon since 2004. Slife's all-around performance falls just five-hundredths short of the program record, set by Jessica Leigl twenty years prior to Friday night. Slife, topping Falcon scores with a 9.900 on uneven bars, finished with a 9.825 or better on all four events and finishing in first place in three events.
In another record-book finish, Gabriella Meccia shined in her floor routine, scoring a 9.925 to smash her previous career best to tie for first and place her name at second in the all-time scores on floor exercise. Meccia is the first to land a 9.925 or better since the 2020 season (Tyler Davis) and just the third to do so since 2004.
Following the Olympic order, the Falcons opened on vault, where Slife's 9.850 topped all scores and was the lone 9.800 of the day. Velandra Brochi, Gracie Willis and Gabriella Meccia all followed with a 9.650 to tie for seventh.
On uneven bars, Slife's first-place 9.900 marked the team's second-highest score in the event in 2024 – second only to the 9.925 Slife set in her collegiate debut on Jan. 19. Ayla McKean tied for second place, scoring a 9.850 to match her career best. Clara Wallace took a leap on the score sheet, closing with a personal-best 9.725.
On beam, Slife (9.825) and McKean (9.800, season high) earned podium finishes, both finishing first and third.
Air Force closed on floor exercise where they finished with a 49.125, earning the highest team score in the event since Feb. 4, 2022. Three Falcons closed the night with a 9.800 or higher to all earn top-ten finishes. Meccia's first-place 9.925 led off Falcon scoring, with Slife (9.850, career-high) and Gianna Martyna (9.800) all contributing to an all-time team result.
Head Coach Jennifer Green on bringing the show back home:
"The crowd (Pack the House) was amazing and made the difference in the end. It was wonderful for the freshmen to get their first taste of what it feels like to compete at home!"
Coach Green on standout performances:
"We had some outstanding performances out of a lot of people. Loved seeing Rosa compete her full on vault and exhibition on beam and floor! Gabi's floor routine was an incredible way to finish! Madison Carlisle was in a pressure situation on bars and did her best. She showed competitive greatness."
"The team wanted to put on a show on floor and did they! 49.125 is a high for this season!"
On Amber Boll and Velandra Brochi's ring recognition ceremony:
"What a blessing to have several alumnae back in the gym. That energy lifts everyone. They are the reason we are doing so well; they paved the way. Lots of gratitude for being part of their journey. Winning bars at a conference championship and the all-around at USAG Nationals are rare and difficult accomplishments. Something definitely to celebrate!"
"It will be nice to stay home again next week! We are looking forward to building on this performance. It was exciting to see this team thrive-and trust in themselves to come from behind and win."
Up Next:
Air Force women's gymnastics is back in the Cadet Gym on Feb. 16, hosting UC Davis and Centenary College at 7 p.m.
Players Mentioned
VT, UB, BB
/ Women's Gymnastics
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AA
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AA
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